Force India’s future looks to be hanging from a thread following news that they might not test their 2015 car on-track at all ahead of the opening race in Australia.
The Silverstone-based team originally planned to debut its VJM08 at the second pre-season test in Barcelona, but that is now unlikely to happen.
Now deputy team principal Bob Fernley has admitted that they might not even be present at the final test.
“The question for me is only how much of the third test we will participate in,” he told the BBC, after dismissing reports that the team won’t be at the first race in Melbourne.
“We won’t make the second test at all – although we are looking at taking the 2014 car there to do a little bit of driver and tyre work.
“I’m hoping we will make the start of the third test with the 2015 car, but we have to [try and attend] as much of it as we can.”
It’s worrying news for the outfit which has steadily climbed the F1 ranks, finishing a best sixth last season with 155 points.
When probed on why the debut had been repeatedly delayed, Fernley explained that suppliers are unwilling to offer credit following the collapse of Marussia and Caterham, whilst a deal to use Toyota’s wind tunnel took longer than expected.
